Fixture for holding a preform during a heating process

ABSTRACT

A restraint fixture ( 12 ) is disclosed that includes a preform retention region configured to limit contracting forces applied against a preform ( 10 ) in the preform retention region when the restraint fixture ( 12 ) thermally contracts. In one embodiment, the restraint fixture ( 12 ) comprises a band ( 12 ) having a first surface defining the preform retention region and a first expansion portion ( 26, 28, 29 ) adapted to deform upon application of a force to the band ( 12 ).

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to a fixture for holding a preform during a heating process, and, more specifically, toward a restraint fixture for holding a preform that expands during a heating process and limits the force applied to the preform when the restraint fixture cools.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Brake discs for aircraft or automobiles require materials having high heat resistance and long wear. Asbestos has been used in these applications, due to its heat resistance properties. Asbestos-based friction components have limited applicability under severe use conditions because the polymeric resins used to bind the asbestos fibers together decompose at elevated temperatures. The use of carbon-carbon brake components has therefore become more common.

Among the types of substrates used to make carbon-carbon parts are discontinuous carbon fiber moldings, nonwoven airlaid carbon substrates, woven carbon fiber substrates, and braided carbon fiber substrates. Carbon-carbon parts can also be made by using fibers that are precursors to carbon fibers to build a preform and then converting the fiber to carbon fiber. The substrates are typically stacked on top of each other to a desired thickness, and then the stacked substrates may be needle-punched together to join or consolidate the substrates to each other by intermingling fibers between the layers of substrates to form the preform. Other methods of manufacturing a preform or impregnating the preform with pitch may also be used.

An alternate method of consolidating the layers of a substrate is to use a pitch or resin binder and press the materials under heat and pressure to form a preform. The preform is then typically batch carbonized to reduce its non-carbon content. The carbonized preform may then be die cut or machined to a desired shape for further densification.

The preform may be further densified by a chemical vapor deposition (CVD) process, e.g. with hydrocarbon gasses, by resin infiltration or by pitch infiltration and then carbonized yet again. These densification processes may be repeated until the desired density is attained. The preform may then be heat-treated to reorient the carbon atoms, which modifies the thermo-mechanical properties of the preform, machined if necessary, and the non friction surfaces treated with an anti-oxidant to form the finished carbon-carbon part.

It has been found that, for preforms containing pitch, if the preform is carbonized without undergoing a stabilization step, a significant amount of the liquid pitch runs out of the preform during carbonization. This limits the density of the resulting carbon-carbon preform. In an effort to address this problem, the present inventors have attempted to carbonize performs while they are contained in a restraint fixture. The use of such a restraint fixture substantially addresses the problem of run out, but may cause damage to the finished perform. This is because, while the preform and the restraint fixture both expand when heated during the carbonization process, the restraint fixture contracts to a greater extent that the preform as it cools and thus squeezes and sometimes damages the preform. It would therefore be desirable to provide a restraint fixture for quickly and efficiently producing preforms that reduces the need for a stabilization step and avoids pitch run out during carbonization.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

One aspect of the invention comprises a restraint fixture including a band having a central portion having first and second ends and a first finger extending from the first end at a first angle and a second finger extending from the second end at a second angle. The center portion is curved so that its first end lies adjacent to its second end, and the first finger is connected to the second finger.

Another aspect of the invention comprises a restraint fixture that includes a band having a central portion having first and second ends, a first finger extending from the first end and a second finger extending from the second end. The center portion is curved so that the first end lies adjacent to the second end and the first finger is connected to the second finger. The band has a first configuration wherein the first finger extends from the first end at a first angle and the second finger extends from the second end at a second angle, and a second configuration wherein the first finger extends from the first end at a third angle different than the first angle and the second finger extends from the second end at a fourth angle different from the second angle.

A further aspect of the invention comprises a restraint fixture that includes a band having a first surface defining a preform retention region and a first expansion portion adapted to deform upon application of a force to the band first surface.

Another aspect of the invention comprises a restraint fixture that includes a band having a first surface defining a preform retention region and an arrangement for limiting a force exerted by the band on a preform in the preform retention region during a thermal contraction of the band.

An additional aspect of the invention comprises a restraint fixture that includes a band having first edge and a second edge and an inner surface defining a preform retention region, wherein the band has an inner diameter at the first edge greater than the inner diameter at the second edge.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other aspects and features of the present invention will be better understood after a reading of the following detailed description together with the drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a restraint fixture according to an embodiment of the present invention holding a preform before a heating process has been carried out on the preform;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the restraint fixture and preform of FIG. 1 after a heating process has been carried out on the preform;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a variation of the restraint fixture of FIG. 1 holding a plurality of preforms separated by separation plates;

FIG. 4 illustrates the arrangement of the preforms and separation plates of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a top plan view of a carbon-carbon variation of the restraint fixture of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a top plan view of a restraint fixture according to a second embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 7 is a top plan view of a restraint fixture according to a third embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 8 is a top plan view of a restraint fixture according to a fourth embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 9 is a top plan view of a restraint fixture according to a fifth embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 10 is a top plan view of a restraint fixture according to a sixth embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 11 is a top plan view of a restraint fixture according to a seventh embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 12 is a detail view of region XII of FIG. 11;

FIG. 13 is a top plan view of a restraint fixture according to an eighth embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 14 is a side elevational view of a restraint fixture according to a ninth embodiment of the invention; and

FIG. 15 is a top plan view of the restraint fixture of FIG. 14.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring now to the drawings, wherein the showings are for the purpose of illustrating preferred embodiments of the invention only and not for the purpose of limiting same, FIG. 1 shows a preform 10 surrounded by a generally circular restraint fixture 12 comprising a steel band 14 having an inner surface 16, an outer surface 18, a first end 20 and a second end 22. Restraint fixture 12 includes a generally circular central body portion 24 having a first end 21 and a second end 23, a first finger 26 formed by bending band 14 at central body first end 21 at an angle of about 90 degrees to the band body portion 24, and a second finger 28 formed by bending band 14 at central body portion second end 23 at about a 90 degree angle to band body 24. Central body portion 24 is curved so that central body portion first end 21 lies adjacent to or contacts central body portion second end 23 and so that the inner surface 16 of first finger 26 is aligned with and may contact the inner surface 16 of second finger 28. Each of first finger 26 and second finger 28 may include an opening 30 for receiving a fastener, such as, for example, a screw 32, for joining the first and second fingers 26, 28 together; however other ways of connecting the first and second fingers 26, 28 are envisioned. As explained below, it is preferable that opening 30 is formed near the first and second ends 18, 20 of band 14 leaving portions of the first and second fingers between openings 30 and preform 10 in contact with one another but unattached. An inner wall 34 may also be provided for engaging an inner surface 36 of preform 10 as illustrated in FIG. 1. Inner wall 34 is preferably used with all embodiments of the present invention; for clarity, it is only depicted in FIG. 1.

In use, restraint fixture 12 is placed around preform 10, and the first finger 26 and second finger 28 are fastened together with fastener 32. When a standard carbonization process is carried out on the restraint fixture 12 and preform 10, at a temperature of about 750° C., for example, both the preform 10 and the restraint fixture 12 thermally expand. However, once the preform is carbonized, the new coefficient of thermal expansion will not allow the preform to shrink back to its original size when it cools. The restraint fixture 12, however, will shrink as it cools, and as it shrinks, it applies force to the circumference of preform 10. This squeezing may damage the preform. However, as will be appreciated from FIG. 2, when the restraint fixture 12 of this embodiment of the present invention shrinks, fingers 26, 28 bend away from one another and form a gap 29 between central body portion first end 21 and central body portion second end 32. In this second configuration, the angle between each finger and the central body portion 24 increases, and the force applied against the preform 10 is thus limited. Fingers 26, 28 thereby form an expansion region that expands, or more precisely, limits the contraction of restraint fixture 12 as the restraint fixture 12 cools. Therefore, restraint fixture 12 is deformed as it contracts, does not contract to its original size, and limits the force applied against preform 10 during cooling.

Band 14 may be formed from a variety of thicknesses of steel. The present inventors have found that steel sheet as thin as 18 gauge or as thick as one half inch can be used to form band 14. When thinner material is used, the distance between opening 30 and preform 10, in other words, the length of first finger 26 and second finger 28, may be relatively small because band 14 and fingers 26, 28 will readily deform. When a thicker band 14 is used, such as one formed from quarter inch steel, the fingers 26, 28 must be longer so that the pressure of band 14 contracting around preform 10 during cooling will be sufficient to deform the first and second fingers 26, 28 without damaging the preform 10. Beneficially, while thinner bands generally can only be used once, thicker bands are reusable and may be used, for example, up to about 100 times before the repeated heating and cooling cycles render them unsuitable for further use. Alternately, band 14 can be formed from a carbon-carbon material that is both strong and will withstand a greater number of heating and cooling cycles before failing. A carbon-carbon band 37 is illustrated FIG. 5. A benefit of carbon-carbon band 37 is that carbon-carbon can be used at temperatures higher than those at which metals can be used.

As illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4, a taller fixture 12′ can also be used to hold multiple preforms 10 stacked vertically with steel separation plates 38 therebetween. The plates 38 separating the preforms may have inner diameters smaller than the inner diameters of the preforms and outer diameters larger than the outer diameters of the preforms as illustrated in FIG. 4.

A second embodiment of the present invention is illustrated in FIG. 6 wherein a restraint fixture formed from first and second generally U-shaped steel members 40, 42 is illustrated. First and second steel members 40, 42 are joined together at first and second fingers 44, 46 at their terminal ends. This embodiment provides benefits similar to those provided by the first embodiment, but allows for the material of the first and second steel members 40, 42 to deform at two locations, between each pair of fingers 44, 46, to limit stress on preform 10 during thermal contraction.

A third embodiment of the invention is illustrated in FIG. 7 wherein a restraint fixture 50 is formed from a continuous band of material 52 having a crimped portion 54 that is formed either when the band 52 is made or at the time the band 52 is placed around preform 10. Crimped portion 54 deforms or opens when restraint fixture 50 cools to limit the stress on preform 10. A band 50 having multiple crimped portions 54 could also be used.

A fourth embodiment of the invention is illustrated in FIG. 8 wherein band 14 is shown with first finger 26 and second finger 28 secured with a clip or loop or band member 60 that will stretch or break when the contraction of the band 14 around the preform 10 begins to pull first finger 26 away from second finger 28 as the band cools. The band member 60 is weaker than the first and second fingers and thus breaks or deforms before the first and second fingers 26, 28 bend. Band member 60 may be made from a material that is relatively thin and weak which fails under a given amount of stress or may be relatively strong but which weakens when exposed to the heat of the carbonization process to help ensure that band 60 only breaks once the restraint fixture 12 has served its purpose.

A fifth embodiment of the invention is illustrated in FIG. 9 wherein a restraint fixture 70 is shown having first and second unconnected ends 72, 74 which overlay one another in a sliding fashion so that an inner surface of first end 72 overlies an outer surface of second end 74. Band 74 is made from spring steel or other resilient material that so that first end 72 slides over second end 74 as preform 10 expands during heating and maintains a relatively constant force on the outside diameter of the preform. When the preform and restraint fixture cool, a relatively constant force is maintained on the exterior of the preform, but the restraint fixture does not contract to its original configuration and thus does not damage the preform.

A sixth embodiment of the invention is illustrated in FIG. 10 wherein a restraint fixture 80 comprising a steel band 82 with a cut 84 is disclosed. A projection 86 is provided at one end of band 82 which is received in a recess 88 at the other end of the band. The shapes of the projection 86 and the recess 88 should be complimentary, but may differ from those shown in FIG. 10. Cut 84 allows band 82 to open as the band cools and contracts to limit the forces applied against the preform, while projection 86 and recess 88 limit pitch run out before the pitch cures.

A seventh embodiment of the invention is illustrated in FIGS. 11 and 12 wherein a restraint fixture 90 is shown that is similar to the restraint fixture of the fifth embodiment of FIG. 9, but wherein each of the first and second overlapping ends 92, 94 includes ratchet teeth 96 (shown in detail in FIG. 12). The overlapping ends 92, 94 move little if at all relative to one another as the restraint fixture 90 expands. However, as the restraint fixture 90 cools and begins to shrink around a more-slowly shrinking preform, the ratchet teeth 96 allow the overlapping ends 92, 94 to slide relative to each other in one direction and prevent the interior of the restraint fixture from becoming too small.

An eighth embodiment of the invention is illustrated in FIG. 13 wherein a restraint fixture 100 comprising a carbon-carbon band 102 having a cut 104 is shown encircling a preform 10. A band of carbon-carbon fibers 106 is used to secure band 102 about preform 10 which fibers 106 may break as the restraint fixture expands or which may have a negative coefficient of thermal expansion and thus expand as the restraint fixture cools, reducing the amount of force applied against the preform.

A ninth embodiment of the invention is illustrated in FIG. 14 and 15 wherein a restraint fixture 110 is illustrated comprising an uninterrupted band 112 having a sloped inner wall 114. In this embodiment, the band contracts as it cools, but sloped inner wall 114 causes cured preform 10 to slide axially (upwardly in FIG. 14) and out of restraint fixture 110 as band 112 cools to minimize damage to the preform 10.

The invention has been described in terms of several embodiments, however, other modifications and additions will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon a reading of this disclosure and such modifications and additions are intended to be included within the scope of this patent. 

1. A restraint fixture comprising: a band having a central portion having first and second ends, a first finger extending from said first end at a first angle and a second finger extending from said second end at a second angle, said center portion being curved such that said first end lies adjacent to said second end, and said first finger being connected to said second finger.
 2. The restraint fixture of claim 1 wherein said first angle is equal to said second angle.
 3. The restraint fixture of claim 1 wherein said first and second angles are selected such that said first finger contacts said second finger when said first end lies adjacent to said second end.
 4. The restraint fixture of claim 1 including a connector connecting said first finger to said second finger at a location spaced from said central portion first and second ends.
 5. The restraint fixture of claim 1 wherein said first finger and said second finger comprise integral portions of said band.
 6. The restraint fixture of claim 1 wherein said first angle is approximately 90 degrees.
 7. The restraint fixture of claim 1 wherein said central portion defines a substantially circular preform retention region.
 8. The restraint fixture of claim 1 wherein said first finger is substantially parallel to said second finger.
 9. A restraint fixture comprising: a band having a central portion having first and second ends, a first finger extending from said first end and a second finger extending from said second end, said center portion being curved such that said first end lies adjacent to said second end, said first finger being connected to said second finger; said band having a first configuration wherein said first finger extends from said first end at a first angle and said second finger extends from said second end at a second angle and a second configuration wherein said first finger extends from said first end at a third angle different than said first angle and said second finger extends from said second end at a fourth angle different from said second angle.
 10. The restraint fixture of claim 9 wherein said third angle is greater than said first angle and said fourth angle is greater than said second angle.
 11. The restraint fixture of claim 9 wherein said first finger is connected to said second finger by a fastener spaced from said first end and said second end.
 12. The restraint fixture of claim 9 wherein said band is shiftable from said first configuration to said second application by an application of radial force against said central portion.
 13. A restraint fixture comprising: a band having a first surface defining a preform retention region, and a first expansion portion adapted to deform upon application of a force to said band first surface.
 14. The restraint fixture of claim 13 including a wall having a second surface defining with the band a preform retention region.
 15. The restraint fixture of claim 14 wherein said preform retention region is ring shaped.
 16. The restraint fixture of claim 15 wherein said band surrounds said second surface.
 17. The restraint fixture of claim 13 wherein said band is continuous.
 18. The restraint fixture of claim 17 wherein said first expansion portion comprises a crimp in said band.
 19. The restraint fixture of claim 13 wherein said band includes a first end and a second end and a central portion between first end and said second end, said first and second ends comprising said expansion region.
 20. The restraint fixture of claim 19 wherein said first end includes a projection and said second end includes a recess receiving said projection.
 21. The restraint fixture of claim 20 wherein said first end comprises a first finger bent at an angle to said central portion.
 22. The restraint fixture of claim 20 wherein said first end is parallel to said second end.
 23. The restraint fixture of claim 19 wherein said first surface comprises an inner surface, said band further comprising an outer surface and said first end inner surface overlies said second end outer surface.
 24. The restraint fixture of claim 23 wherein said first end inner surface slidingly engages said second end outer surface.
 25. The restraint fixture of claim 23 wherein said first end inner surface comprises a toothed surface, said second end outer surface comprises a toothed surface, and said first toothed surface and second toothed surface are configured to allow said first end inner surface to slide relative to said second end outer surface in a single direction.
 26. The restraint fixture of claim 22 wherein said first end is connected to said second end at a point spaced from said central portion.
 27. The restraint fixture of claim 19 including means for securing said first end to said second end.
 28. The restraint fixture of claim 27 wherein said means for securing said first end to said second end comprise a loop encircling said band.
 29. The restraint fixture of claim 22 including a connector connecting said first end to said second end.
 30. The restraint fixture of claim 29 wherein said connector comprises a screw.
 31. The restraint fixture of claim 29 wherein said connector comprises a loop encircling said first end and said second end.
 32. The restraint fixture of claim 13 including a second expansion portion adapted to deform upon application of a force to said band.
 33. The restraint fixture of claim 13 including a separator plate in said preform retention region adapted to separate a first preform in said preform retention region from a second preform in said preform retention region.
 34. The restraint fixture of claim 14 including a separator plate in said preform retention region adapted to separate a first preform in said preform retention region from a second preform in said preform retention region, wherein said first surface defines a preform outer diameter, said second surface defines a preform inner diameter, and said separation plate including a larger outer diameter than said preform outer diameter and a smaller inner diameter than said preform inner diameter.
 35. A restraint fixture comprising: a band having a first surface defining a preform retention region, and means for limiting a force exerted by said band on a preform in said preform retention region during a thermal contraction of said band.
 36. The restraint fixture of claim 35 wherein said band comprises a first end and a second end connected to said first end.
 37. A restraint fixture comprising: a band having first edge and a second edge and an inner surface defining a preform retention region, said band having a first inner diameter at said first edge greater than a second inner diameter at said second edge.
 38. The restraint fixture of claim 37 wherein said band comprises a first end and a second end connected to said first end. 